Road Plans Draw Mixed Reviews

Many Favor, But Some Criticize Route 44 Proposals

CANTON — Though reviews were mostly positive, some residents who attended a Wednesday night hearing on proposed changes to Route 44 aren't sold on all aspects of the plan.

Representatives from the Capital Region Council of Governments and TransCore, the national engineering firm hired to work on the project, presented their proposals to an audience of about 30 gathered at town hall.

The project focuses on Route 44 from Hartford to the Canton-New Hartford town line. Tom Maziarz, director of transportation with the regional council, said saftey safety -- particularly specifically for motorists who have to cross oncoming traffic to make left turns -- and congestion were among the primary factors that drove the study.

The project would include the addition of: left-turn lanes, sidewalks, and a hiking and biking trail west of Route 179;, a median east of Lovely Street;, numerous access and driveway improvements; and a park-and-ride lot at routes 44, 179 and 202. Several intersections would also be realigned.

Bradley J. Marsteller, senior transportation engineer with Transcore, said the project would also add size of the town green would be increased by about 14,000 square feet to the town green by eliminating through the removal of paved areas.

Town resident Art Blondin said he was worried about the fate of the 189-year-old building on Dowd Avenue that he and his wife, Sankey, own. The building now houses is currently home to law offices, a personal services business and the Blondins's computer business. It would have to be demolished or relocated to make way for accommodate the proposed relocation of the Route 44-Dowd Avenue intersection.

Maziarz said the building could potentially be relocated moved to a new spot on the same property. it now occupies.

Art Blondin said also noted that another building in the area, a residence home built in the 18th century, would also have to be moved or come down.

``I think you're changing the character of the town,'' he said.

Other residents expressed concern about preserving the vegetation along Route 44 and the speed of travel.

First Selectwoman Kathleen Corkum said she supports the project.

``I think it's a good plan,'' Corkum said. ``I think it anticipates growth in the area for the next 20 years.''

Marsteller said comments received from made by residents and officials at Wednesday's meeting and similar hearings held in other towns effected affected by the project will be considered weighed as the plans are refined. Towns will be asked to approve what is expected figures to be a partially modified version of the project this year. The plans would then need approval from Sstate officials and the regional council. would have to subsequently approve the plans.

Maziarz said it will be at least three or four years before construction begins, and, in some areas, it will be more like five or six years.

``Nobody should be expecting the bulldozers to be out there next week,'' he said.